Zachary Ziegler (OpenEvidence)
Overview
Zachary Ziegler is a notable figure in the field of artificial intelligence and medical technology, primarily recognized as the co-founder and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of OpenEvidence. OpenEvidence is an AI-powered medical information platform that has gained widespread adoption among healthcare professionals for its ability to provide real-time, evidence-based medical insights. Ziegler's academic background includes a stint as a PhD candidate at Harvard University, where he worked under the guidance of Professor Sasha Rush, focusing on machine learning and natural language processing. Ziegler has been instrumental in developing OpenEvidence into a leading tool for medical professionals, widely used in the U.S. healthcare system.
Recent Developments
- May 2025: OpenEvidence, under Ziegler's technical leadership, became the first AI to score above 90% on the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE), outperforming previous models like ChatGPT and Google’s Med-PaLM 2.
- March 2025: Ziegler was a panelist at the SAIL Symposium on Artificial Intelligence for Learning Health Systems, discussing OpenEvidence’s impact on clinical decision-making and its adoption among U.S. physicians.
- February 2025: OpenEvidence announced a $210 million Series B funding round, co-led by Google Ventures and Kleiner Perkins, raising their valuation to $3.5 billion. The funds are aimed at expanding its strategic content partnerships and enhancing its library of advanced medical knowledge.
- June 2024: Ziegler participated in a Reddit AMA with Dr. Travis Zack from OpenEvidence, where he discussed the challenges and methodologies behind integrating AI safely and effectively into healthcare systems.
- July 2023 and beyond: OpenEvidence released the DeepConsult AI, designed to handle complex medical inquiries by autonomously cross-referencing extensive medical studies, significantly aiding in advanced medical research.
Personal Information
| Attribute | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Zachary Ziegler |
| Born | N/A |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Co-Founder and CTO of OpenEvidence |
| Known For | Leading AI medical information platform, OpenEvidence |
| Education | PhD Candidate, Harvard University; Undergraduate at Cornell University |
Early Life and Education
Zachary Ziegler’s formative years were spent pursuing education and experiences that would underpin his future success in AI and technology. He completed his undergraduate studies at Cornell University, where he earned the Barry Goldwater Scholarship, a prestigious award recognizing outstanding achievements in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. His academic career continued as a PhD candidate at Harvard University, where he was awarded the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. During his time at Harvard, Ziegler focused on machine learning under the mentorship of Professor Sasha Rush, which honed his skills in AI and positioned him to undertake significant projects in healthcare technology.
Career and Notable Achievements
Ziegler co-founded OpenEvidence, which quickly became a cornerstone platform for healthcare practitioners seeking to base patient care decisions on rigorous evidence from medical literature.
- Achievements:
- Co-developed AI that performed above 90% on the USMLE.
- Led technical efforts to integrate OpenEvidence into over 10,000 care centers nationwide.
- Awards:
- National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship.
- Barry Goldwater Scholarship at Cornell University.
Current Work and Impact
Currently, Ziegler’s work at OpenEvidence continues to revolutionize how clinicians access and apply medical knowledge. The platform’s adoption by over 40% of U.S. physicians indicates significant impacts, such as reducing the information overload that has plagued healthcare workers. This is particularly relevant in the face of a projected physician shortfall. By providing AI-driven answers to complex queries, OpenEvidence facilitates faster, evidence-backed clinical decisions, contributing to improved patient outcomes and more efficient clinical workflows.
Open Evidence Ai App
OpenEvidence operates as an AI-powered co-pilot for physicians, allowing them to access a vast database of peer-reviewed medical literature quickly.
- Features:
- Instantaneous information retrieval from a library of over 35 million publications.
- Integration with content from The New England Journal of Medicine and JAMA for in-depth analysis.
- Compliance with HIPAA regulations for patient data privacy.
Open Evidence Stock
While OpenEvidence is currently a privately held company, its rapid value growth, as seen in its recent funding rounds, indicates strong investor confidence in its business model and technological approach.
- Valuation:
- Reached $3.5 billion valuation following the Series B funding round.
- Significant backing from notable investors like Google Ventures and Kleiner Perkins.
Conclusion
Zachary Ziegler’s contributions to the healthcare industry through OpenEvidence have been profound, especially in addressing the challenges of information overload faced by clinicians. As AI continues to integrate more deeply into clinical practice, Ziegler’s work with OpenEvidence could define new standards in evidence-based medical care and potentially influence the future directions of digital health technology. His foresight in developing AI tools to aid in clinical decision-making is likely to have a lasting impact on healthcare practices worldwide.